Bean-picker



(N o Model.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. P. CRIPPBN.

BEAN PICKER.

Patented Mair. 16, 1897.

` 2 sheets-sheet 24 \G. P. CRIPPEN.

BEAN PICKER.

No. 578,861. Patented Mar. 1 6, 1897 /IIIIIII y f/ my UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. CRIPPEN, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN.

BEAN-PICKER.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,861, dated March16, 1897. Application filed June 1,1896. Serial No. 593,775. (No model.)

To all whom t 11m/1,1 concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE F. CRIPPEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of VVashtenaw and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in BeanPickers, of which the following is a specication, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in bean picker or separatingmachines in which the beans are fed into a throat between two revolvingrolls, one having a yielding surface and the other a polished unyieldingsurface, the poor beans being drawn between the rolls by sinking intothe yielding surface and the good ones remaining in the throat untildischarged therefrom through a separate channel.

My invention consists in the means employed for feeding the beans intothe throat between the rolls; further, in the means for discharging thegood beans from the throat, and, further, in the peculiar construction,arrangement, and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is avertical 1ongitudinal section through mymachine. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a crosssectionsubstantially on line x Qc, Fig.` 2, looking toward the front of themachine. Fig. et is a section similar to Fig. l with the parts indifferent positions; and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of theseparating-rolls, showing the manner of adjusting the same.

A is the frame of the machine.

B and C are rolls extending transversely and journaled in suitablebearings upon the frame. The roll B is formed with a hard polishedsurface and is provided with the longitudinal groove a, extending itsentire length. The roll C is provided with a yielding surface,preferably formed by a covering B, of rubber or similar elasticmaterial, and is also preferably of greater diameter than the roll B.

The rolls are made adjustable toward or from each other, preferably byjournaling the roll C in the pivoted arms D, which are bifurcated attheir lower ends and provided with adjusting-screws D', engaging with alug D2 on the frame. The roll B may be journaled in fixed bearings, suchas E, secured to the frame, so as to bring said roll in front above thecenter of the roll C.

F is a hopper above the roll C for receiving the beans to be pickedover. The bottom of this hopper is provided with a series of slots c,which are covered by the slotted feed-bar G, adapted to be oscillatedlongitudinally to feed the beans through the slots c.

Below the hopper is the depending flange H, extending into proximityroll C.

I is a gate in front of the flange H, supported at each end by thepivoted arms J and normally held in proximity to the roll C.

K are cams on the roll B, adapted at one point in the rotation of saidroll to bear against the antifriction-rolls (l on the arms J to lift thegate I.

Below the rolls B and C are arranged the discharge-chutes L and M, andbetween these chutes is secured the swingingwing N, adapted to connectthe throat- O between the rolls with either one of said chutes. Thiswing is preferably operated by the cam P on the roll B, which bearsagainst the roll c on the levers Q, one end of said levers beingpivotally secured to the frame and the other end to the rock-arm f onthe rock-shaft R, to which the wing N is attached.

S is a brush in rear of the roll C and in contact with the surfacethereof. The machine is provided with a suitable drive mechanism, whichI have shown as comprising the crank T on the shaft T', the sprocket Uthereon, connected by the chain U to the sprocket V on the shaft of theroll B, the gears IV, connecting the shaft T' to the shaft W', and thesprocket X on said shaft, connected by the chain X' to the sprocket Y onthe shaft of the roll C.

The feed-bar G projects from the end of the hopper F and carries at itsend the roll g, in proximity to the side of the sprocket V,which isprovided with a cam h, adapted to strike said roll and oscillate thefeed-bar.

The parts being thus constructed and arranged, the operation of themachine is as follows: The hopper F being first filled with the beans tobe picked over, motion is imparted to the machine from the crank T,which, through the connection described, revolves guideto Ithe and IOO

the rolls B and C. With each revolution of the roll B the cam h on thesprocket V strikes the roll g on the feed-bar G, which is given a quickforward movement and is returned by a spring z'. This will feed acertain quantity of beans through the slots c, which fall upon theflange H and are diverted thereby to the roll C behind the gate I. Whenthe gate is raised by the cams K bearing against the rolls d on the armsJ, the beans will be fed forward into the throat between the rolls B andC. Here the separation will take place. The poor and worthless beans(which are always shriveled or rough on the surface) will be drawnbetween the rolls, sinking in the elastic surface b, while the goodbeans (which are smooth on the surface) will remain in the throat.

The wing N is normally in the position to connect the throat O betweenthe rolls with the discharge-chute L, as shown in Fig. l, so that theworthless beans passing between the rolls will be discharged into saidchute. the revolution of the roll B the groove acomes opposite the rollC, the good beans,which have remained in the throat, will be gatheredinto said groove and carried between the rolls. In the meantime the wing N has been turn ed by the cam P and levers Q into the position shownin Fig. 4, and as the beans fall from the groove a they will be directedby said wing into the chute M.

The parts are so timed that the gate I will be raised to admit a newcharge of beans into the throat just as the good beans of the formercharge are being carried through in groove a. Thus each charge willyremain in the throat during the period of revolution of the roll B. Theswinging wing N is timed to be thrown into the position shown in Fig. 4just as the groove a carries the beans between the rolls, and it isimmediately returned after the discharge of said beans bya spring j. Thedrive mechanism for the rolls is also preferably timed so as to give theroll C either the same or a somewhat faster peripheral spiral than theroll B.

The object of the brush S is to keep the surface of the roll O clean toinsure a uniform discriminating action upon the beans in the throat. Byadjusting the screw D the rolls may be moved toward or from each other,according to the size and condition of the beans to be separated.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination of two rolls,adapted to revolve in proximity to each other, one having a yieldingsurface and the other a hard polished surface with a longitudinal grooveformed therein, means for feeding the beans to be separated into thethroat between said rolls, (whereby the poor beans will first When inVbe drawn between said rolls by theirfrictional contact therewith, andthe remainder will be carried through in the groove in the roll) andmeans for directing the beans discharged from the groove into a separatereceptacle.

2. The combination with two rolls adapted to revolve in proximity toeach other, one having a yielding surface and the other a hard polishedsurface with a longitudinal groove formed therein, of a hopper abovesaid rolls for the beans to be separated, a mechanical feed thereforadapted to discharge the beans periodically into the throat between saidrolls, and a vibrating Wing below said rolls adapted to direct theseparate discharges into different receptacles.

3. The combination with the rolls B and C in proximity to each other,the former provided with fhe longitudinal groove a, of a hopper abovesaid rolls, a mechanical feed from said hopper to the throat between therolls, the gate I above and the swinging wing N below said rolls, andmechanism timed to operate the parts substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4. In-a bean-picker, the combination of a roll having a hard polishedsurface and provided with a longitudinal groove, and a roll journaled inproximity thereto provided with a yielding surface, for the purposedescribed.

5. In a bean-picker, the combination with a "hopper, two rolls belowsaid hopper in proximity to e'ach. other, one being provided with alongitudinal groove, a movable gate between the hopper and the rolls,means moving with one roll for operating said gate, a plurality ofchutes below the rolls, a movable wing adapted to direct the beanspassing between the rolls into one of said chutes, and means operated byone of said rolls for shifting said wing.

6. In a bean-picker, the combination with a frame, a hopper, areciprocating feed-bar in said hopper, two rolls, journaled in the framein proximity to each other, one provided With a longitudinal groove,means for directing the beans from the hopper to the rolls, a movablegate, means operated by one of said rolls for moving said gate, aplurality of chutes below the rolls, a swinging wing adapted to directthe beans passing between the rolls into one of said chutes, meansoperated by one of said rolls for. shifting said wing, mechanism fordriving said rolls, and means for reciprocating said feed-bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORGE F. CRIPPEN.

Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, M. B. ODOGHERTY.

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